"Mounted" - downtown Bloomington IL (Oct 2017)

12 x 35ft piece at the corner of Front and Prairie in Bloomington IL.

Two years ago I had a vision of big gold frames all in a row, with horses sticking their heads out like stalls in a stable. When Kyle and Lacey Glandon asked me to do a piece on this building built in the 1880’s as a horse hospital, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The man carrying the frame in the bricked-up entry for the horses is based on one of my favorite Norman Rockwell paintings, appearing on the March '46 cover of The Saturday Evening Post.

It was a privilege to bring all of these elements together in a narrative that feels extremely personal. Art has always served as a mirror for me, showing me how I feel before I realize it. I definitely view this piece from the perspective of the unframed horse. Maybe it has something to do with me being a middle child, or because I hate being defined or confined in any way... but I look at him and feel he’s dreading what’s coming for some reason.

A lot of thank you's to give out:Thank you to Illinois Prairie Community Foundation and Lacey and Kyle Glandon for making this project happen! Couldn't have done it without Ben Hood helping every step of the way. It was amazing to have all the friends and family come by... it was great to see everyone. A special thank you to Jan, Kristi and Wally Hood, Bill and Cindy Lee, Larysa, and the Ash family for a critical hand at some very needed moments. Hopefully this is the first of many pieces I do in Bloomington Normal.